Despite being the son of leading international sire Galileo, Global View left the gate in the $294,500 American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) May 3 at Churchill Downs as the 6-1 fifth choice (VIDEO).
The 3-year-old colt reinforced the capability of his pedigree with a hard-fought neck win over a determined Storming Inti, ripping through the final sixteenth in 5.91 seconds. The final time in the 1 1/16-mile contest was 1:41.65 over firm going.
Trainer Tom Proctor's instructions to jockey Gary Stevens was pretty straightforward—to enjoy yourself, have a good time, and just concentrate on the finish.
"He said, 'Just make sure you've got the horse to finish up with,' " said Stevens, who let Glen Hill Farm's winner settle eighth in the 10-horse field as they rolled down the stretch for the first time passing the Churchill Downs grandstand. Once he got Global View to settle, Stevens said he started looking for an opening coming out of the second turn and ended up taking the dark bay seven paths wide into the homestretch.
Global View dug in under left-handed urging from Stevens to collar the front-running Storming Inti a few yards from the wire.
"He's got a powerful, powerful kick," Stevens said. "I think he is going to be a top, top turf horse; I'm talking about a grade I."
Global View was bred in Kentucky by Rieko Baum and Michael Baum. His is the first stakes winner out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Egyptian Queen. He was coming off the only poor start of his career, a distant seventh in the off-the-turf Transylvania Stakes (gr. III) on the Keeneland Polytrack April 4. He recorded his third lifetime win from six races in the American Turf, boosting his career earnings to $274,988.
Storming Inti, ridden by Javier Castellano, had opened a two-length advantage by mid-stretch after putting away his pace rival Craftsman following modest quarter mile fractions of :23.68, :47.99, and 1:12.39.
Castellano said he was happy with the race and felt Storming Inti was in a good spot when the running began. They just got outrun.
Quotient finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third. Picozza, the 3-1 favorite, got bumped at the start and stalked the early leaders. Even though the pace quickened appreciably in the final quarter, Picozza simply failed to respond when asked for more, according to rider John Velazquez.
Global View paid $14, $6.60, and $4.40. Storming Inti paid $5.40 and $3.60, while Quotient paid $4. The $2 exacta paid $63 and the $2 trifecta paid $246.80.
Long On Value, General Jack, Woodfield Springs, Picozza, Chief Barker, Cleburne, and Craftsman completed the order of finish.